After watching Super Bowl XLII and the New York Giants upsetting the previously undefeated New England Patriots, I started thinking about what was different between the previous three Super Bowls appearances in the Bill Belichick era. To refresh your memory, here is a brief synopsis of each Super Bowl in the Belichick era:Super Bowl XXXVI: The American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots (14-5) defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion St. Louis Rams (16-3), 20 – 17, as kicker Adam Vinatieri made a game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired. The Rams had been 14-point favorites to win the game, making the Patriots' victory one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history.
Super Bowl XXXVIII: The American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots (17-2) defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Carolina Panthers (14-6), 32–29, as Adam Vinatieri kicked a 41-yard field goal with four seconds left.
Super Bowl XXXIX: The American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots (17-2) defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles (15-4), 24–21, and became the first team since the 1997–98 Denver Broncos to win consecutive Super Bowls.
Each of these margins was because of an Adam Vinatieri field goal, two of which (against the Rams and the Panthers) happened in the final seconds of the 4th quarter. Maybe this franchise should have attempted a field goal when they had 4th and 13 on the Giants 31 yard line at the end of the 3rd Quarter. Granted their team no longer has the greatest kicker to ever play the game, Adam Vinitaeri, but Steve Gostkowski is no slouch of a kicker. Why can’t the leagues best kicker in 2007 kick a 48 yard field goal in a dome stadium? That bold move by Belichick cost his team the game.Sorry Pelsi!
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